This question seems to get asked a lot out there on the world wide web:
Does Goodwill recycle appliances that don’t work anymore?
The short answer is “yes and no.” In other words, some do and some don’t. In order to find out which applies to you, you need to call the Goodwill store nearest you.
I’m sorry that I can’t tell you for sure whether your local Goodwill store will accept your broken coffee maker, electric mixer, crock pot, etc., but there’s a good reason for that.
Basically, it boils down to this:
Goodwill operates thrift stores nationwide for the purpose of funding charitable services and activities, but all of those stores operate under the authority of a more local regional organization. In fact, there are 161 regional Goodwill organizations throughout the United States and Canada.
This organizational structure allows Goodwill to tailor its operations to the needs of local communities. As for recycling services offered by Goodwill stores, this localization means that some areas will have access to recycling partners that may not exist in other parts of the country or even the same state.
I learned all of this by contacting a number of regional Goodwill offices about their recycling programs.
I’ve only gotten a few replies to the dozen or so emails that I sent out, but I can tell you for sure that Goodwill stores in Central Oklahoma and also the New York/New Jersey area do NOT accept non-working appliances. They only accept things that are in good working order.
But random phone calls to Goodwill stores in Chicago and Arlington, TX revealed that stores in those areas DO accept non-working appliances for recycling.
So, to recap: Call your local Goodwill store to see if they will take non-working appliances off your hands! It’s probably also a good idea to tell them specifically what you would like to have recycled.
Recycling Computers and Related Equipment Through Goodwill and Dell Reconnect
Even though Goodwill stores in different regions may have varying policies on recycling non-working appliances, you may have more luck with recycling computers ‘n’ stuff.
Goodwill has partnered with Dell to recycle computers, printers, scanners, keyboards, and most computer-related hardware.
What this means for you is that you can take old computer equipment to participating Goodwill stores for recycling whether that equipment works or not.
In Dell’s own words:
“Dell Reconnect accepts any brand of used computer equipment in any condition. We also accept just about anything that can be connected to a computer.”
Click here for a more detailed list of what Dell will accept through Goodwill as part of the Dell Reconnect recycling program.
To find a Goodwill store that participates in the Dell Reconnect program, use the handy store locator at dellreconnect.com. Not every Goodwill region participates (I just learned that Goodwill NY/NJ does not), but hopefully that’s the exception, not the rule.
And thanks for recycling! You’re doing a good thing.
